Dear Members and Friends,
As I hope you will have seen earlier this week, we have confirmed the details for our programme of events to coincide with COP26. In the first week of COP26 in early November, we will be running three virtual events based on the topics being covered by our Climate Change Working Group: Extreme Weather and Climate Resilience, Nature-based Solutions, and The Built Environment.
On Wednesday 10th November (13:30 to 15:00), we are excited to announce the publication and launch event of the three reports produced by the BEI Climate Change Working Group. These reports will showcase British capabilities in each of the specific sectors and provide a unique framework to help stakeholders understand the solutions that are available.
Once COP26 has closed, we will then look to break down the outputs that have been agreed upon at the conference. We will be putting together an expert panel to discuss what it means for UK private sector organisations. This virtual webinar will be held on Wednesday 17th November (14:00 to 15:30).
In addition to these events, our sister organisation D-Contemporary have announced their plans for an exciting exhibition. Verdant Futures, curated by Sean T Ross, explores how creative innovation can offer new solutions to combating the climate crisis. The exhibition presents the work of five designers who have addressed key climate issues with the aim of a greener tomorrow. The show will run through the first two weeks in November, and we look forward to the opportunity to share it with members.
In the last week, we have been fortunate enough to host three excellent sessions. We heard from Leandro Cuccioli and Rob Jordan who spoke about Investing in Education — a CDC Group View. It was great to hear of the fantastic work the CDC Group are doing to help invest patient, flexible capital to support private sector growth and innovation. Specifically, in the area of Education, members gained some valuable insights on where the needs and gaps are in certain African markets.
We were privileged to hear from H.E. Karwan Jamal Tahir, Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) High Representative to the UK along with other senior KRG officials, David Hunt, the British Consul General and James Gallagher, Director, DIT Iraq, who spoke about Opportunities in the Kurdistan Region. Members were given a thorough and detailed overview of some the exciting projects that are currently being tendered in the region, and we extend our thanks to all those who took part in the session. I’d encourage members who have an interest in the region to watch the recording on our events page.
Finally this week, Rachel Turner, FCDO Director International Finance led a fascinating overview of Climate Finance and Development. With only nine days to go until the start of COP26, this was a great opportunity for members to engage with the FCDO on the critically important intersection between Development and Climate Finance. As Rachel noted, one of the critical ambitions of COP26 is to achieve the $100 billion a year pledge to developing countries to help mitigate and adapt to the effects of climate change; I hope that by the conclusion of the conference we can look at this as one of its greatest achievements.
As we head into next week, we have two events to look forward to. Directly following the Presidential Elections in Uzbekistan due to be held on Sunday, next Wednesday 27th October we will host a Lunch with the Ambassador of Uzbekistan to the UK. This event is now fully subscribed.
On 28th October we will be hosting a Roundtable with Trade Envoy Darren Henry MP , who covers Commonwealth Caribbean markets include Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Grenada, Guyana, Jamaica, St Lucia, St Vincent and the Grenadines, St Kitts and Nevis and Trinidad and Tobago.
Trade Envoy Darren Henry is only too aware of the challenges faced by the Commonwealth Caribbean; however, in his role as Trade Envoy he is looking to amplify the array of commercial opportunities in the region to UK firms and grow the current £2.8 bn in imports and exports of goods and services with these CARICOM trading nations.
You can find more information on all of our events here.
In the course of next week, we will continue to be hard at work preparing for COP26. I hope you all have a relaxing weekend, as we will try to do in preparation for the busy weeks ahead.
With Best Wishes
Derrick
Derrick Sanyahumbi
Chief Executive Officer
British Expertise International
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Don’t forget…
See our full events programme here, and to enquire about becoming a member of BEI, register your interest here.
Join our Working Groups — as part of our member focus, the working groups offer opportunities for peer-to-peer engagement, learning & sharing, profiling expertise & capabilities and highlighting thought leadership. Groups include Climate Change, Education, infrastructure, D&I, and we also support a Safeguarding Leads Network. For details contact Joe McLynn
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Upcoming Events
Currently most of our events are hosted virtually and we are starting to explore face to face and hybrid event options as the government eases socialising restrictions. For any event registration support please contact the events team. Click on titles to access full event details. The full calendar of events can be viewed here and recently added event dates are highlighted with an asterisk*.
27th October — Lunch with the Ambassador of Uzbekistan to the UK
28th October — Roundtable with Trade Envoy Darren Henry MP
1st November — BEI Education Working Group
2nd November* — BEI Climate Series: Extreme Weather and Climate Resilience
2nd November* — BEI Climate Series: Nature-based Solutions
4th November* — BEI Climate Series: Built Environment
10th November* — BEI Climate Series: Climate Change Capabilities Report Launch
11th November — BEI Infrastructure Working Group
17th November — BEI Climate Change Working Group
17th November* — BEI Climate Series: Post-COP26 Debrief
23rd November — BEI Diversity and Inclusion Working Group
23rd November — Event with the Ambassador of Azerbaijan to the UK
24th November — UNICEF & Education Systems Recovery
25th November — Lunch with Andrew Mitchell CMG
25th November — Doing Business with USAID
30th November — Roundtable with Trade Envoy Lord Davies
7th December — Jamaica: Infrastructure Opportunities
8th December* — Mexico Deep Dive
14th December* — Roundtable with Trade Envoy Marco Longhi
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External News & Events
27th October The Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the British Embassy Manila trade team will host a virtual teach-in clinic on accessing ADB consulting business opportunities and demystifying the procurement process.
1st November Department for International Trade (DIT) will host a virtual trade tour of Europe during the month of November to equip UK businesses for success in the region.
2nd November Department for International Trade (DIT) and the UK-Kazakhstan Inter-Governmental Commission (IGC), and the British Council is organizing a Policy Forum focused on the promotion of British transnational education in Kazakhstan. This is designed and delivered in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
7th — 10th November The Antigua and Barbuda High Commission will host a business forum following the 40th Anniversary of Independence on 1st November 2021. Contact the High Commission to find out more and register for your place.
16th November Department for International Trade (DIT) is hosting a free webinar on doing business in Singapore. For UK SMEs, Singapore is one of the easiest places in the world to start, run and do business (World Bank, 2019) as both economies have similar business & legal practices and share similar technical standards. Learn more and register here.
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